Respirator mask



J. W. KNOBLOCK.

RESPIRATOR MASK.

APPUCATKON FILED MAY 22, 1920.

1,419,927 Patented. Mar. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

1. W. KNOBLOCK. RES PIRATOR MASK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1920.

1,41%9QT; Patented Mar. 28, 1922;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. JAMES W. KNOIBLOGK, F ELMIBA, NEW YORK,' ASSIGNOR T0 ICAN LA"FBA.NCE

FIRE ENGINE (10., INC., 01? ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RESPIRATOR. MASK. v

To all who m it may concern:

Be it known thatI, J AMES W. KNoBLooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmira, county of Chemung, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Respirator Masks,

of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present. invention is to improve the construction and increase the efficiency of respirator masks whether of the sponge type or paper filter type. To this end the improved mask has been produced from a pressed sheet of metal, conformed as nearly as possible to the configuration of the human face to provide the least possible dead air or rebreathing space within the mask, and having relatively large eye pieces or windows and an air filter for purifying inflowing air. There is also a novel arrangement of air deflectors that divide the inflowing current of air into two streams that pass upwardly across'the 'inner surfaces of the eyes or windows tending to maintain both faces of said eyes or windows at the same temperature, with a view to reventing nearly all fog or condensation of moisture. The mask is also provided with the usual inflatable soft rubber air cushion, which fits tightly against the wearers face and an ad justable head gear for-securely fastening the mask in place. I

' In order that the invention may be more.

fully understood it will first be described with reference to the accompanying. drawings and afterward pointed out more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a frontview pfthe improved'fespirator mask. Fig. 2 is a rear or inside view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the .mask representing by dotted lines the position of the wearers head when the mask is in use. p

i a transverse section view of the mask taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2;".

Fig. 5 isa side elevation of the mask.

The improved mask is made up primarily of a sheet ofmetal, such as aluminum, indicated at 1, which is pressed-into shapeto conform as nearly as practicable to the contour of the human face, the mask plate '1 being of sufficient j size to spread over the whole face and cover the'mouth, nose and eyes of the wearer.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat gntedl El gig 1922 Application filed May 22,

1920. Serial no? 383,548.

cushion indicated at 5 of well known construction, but of improved shape to cooperate with the improved mask plate to accurately fit the face of the wearer and exclude, the impure air and dust.

In the upper part of the shaped mask plate l'are mounted the circular windows or eye pieces 10 of glass or non-inflammable celluloid, which are secured in suitable rims 11 that are permanently secured in proper openings ,formed in the mask plate. 'These windows are relatively large and by the shape of the mask 'plate are presented close to the face of the, wearer so. as to afford a wide range of vision.

Lower down, below and between the windows, the mask is formed with a slight outward protuberance 1% to receive the nose and this protuberance has a flattened face which is centrally perforatedto receive the flanged collar 15 of the filter box 16. This collar 15 is permanently attached to the projecting portion of the mask, and provides a relatively large air inlet passageway from the filter box 16. The filter box 16 may be of the sponge type, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, or it may be of the filter paper type such.

as indicated at 20 in Fig. 5. The respirator filter of both the sponge and filter papen types is preferably constructed asset forth in my copending application filed of even date herewith, Serial-No. 383,549. Mounted within' theshaped maskplate 1 and in the lower partxt-hereof, is"'a shaped deflecting unask plate, the deflector plate extends laterally in 'gentlecurves toward the edge of the mask plate, thfese'curved'wings being bent outwardly away'from the mask plate to form narrow air directing channels, which direct.

the inflowing cur-rents of'air upwardly across the inner surfaces'of the window pieces 10. These curved'side wings of the deflector plate are indicated at 25". The lower edge of the deflector plate is bent inwardly to form av flange 25 (indicated best in Fig. 3 of the drawings) to tightly contact with the inner surface of the mask plate 1.

It will be observed that the projection 25 of the deflector 25 rests just above the air inlet 15 leading from the filter box 16 (or 20) with the result that the incoming current of air is divided into two streams as indicated best in Fig. 4 of the drawings. These two streams pass upwardly beneath the curved side wings 25 and sweep the in ner surfaces of the eye plates to maintain an equality of temperature over the inner and outer surfaces of the eye plates.

The operation of the device .will be clear without further explanation. T he breathing of the wearercauses air to pass inwardly and outwardly through the filter box, the divided incoming current acting to prevent the fogging of the eye pieces as explained.

The improved mask is provided with some suitable head harness for fastening it in position upon the wearer. This harness as shown comprises a strap 30 riveted at 31 to the upper partof the mask plate 1 and designed to pass over the crown of the head of the wearer. Adjustably secured to the head strap 30 by means of buckle 33 is the neck strap 35 provided with eyelets 36 adjacent to the free ends, which are designed to slip over the studs or posts 37 which project forwardly from the bolts 26 above referred to. The neck strap is preferably provided with elastic portions. such as indicated at 38, to firmly but yieldingly hold the mask in proper adjusted position upon the face of the wearer.

I claim:

1. A respirator mask comprising a sheet metal plate shaped to conform approximately to the contour of the human face, a forwardly projecting air filtering box mounted upon said shaped plate and having free communication with the inner concave chamber thereof, eye windows mounted in said shaped plate above and on opposite sides of said filter box, and an air deflecting plate mounted within said shaped plate and adapted to'divide the incoming air'into two currents and deflect the'sameover the inner surfacesv of said eye windows, said deflect- .ing plate engaging said shaped plate at its top central portion and at its outer edges to form upwardly directed passageways.

2. A respirator mask comprising a sheet metal plate shaped to conform approximately to the contour of the human face and having a prominent forwardly projecting nose, an air filtering box mounted upon said nose and having free communication therewith, eye windows mounted in said shaped plate above and on opposite sidesof said nose, and an air deflecting plate mounted within said shaped plate and adapted to deflect the incoming air over the inner surmately to the contour of the human face and having a prominent forwardly projecting nose, an air filtering box mounted upon said nose and having free communication therewith, eye windows mounted lIl. sald shaped plate above and von oppositesides of said nose. an air deflecting plate mounted within said shaped plate beneath said eye windows and formed with a central projection. which engages the inner surface of. said nose above the opening leading from said filter box, said deflector plate forming divided passageways for the incoming air I to direct the air currents upwardly over the inner faces of said eye windows.

4. A respirator mask comprising a sheet metal plate shaped to conform approximately to the contour of the human face and. having a prominent forwardly projecting nose. an air filtering box mounted uponsa'id nose and having free communication therewith, eye windows mounted in said shaped plate above and on opposite sides of said nose, an air deflecting plate mounted within said shaped plate beneath said eye windows and formed with a central projection. which engages the inner surface of said nose above the opening leading from said filter box, said deflector plate having laterally projecting curved wings that closely engage the inner face of the mask plate at their edges and form dividedpassageways for the lncoming air to direct the air currents upwardly over the inner faces I of said eye windows. I Y

5. A respirator mask comprising a sheet metal plate shaped to conform approx1-- mately to the contour of the human face and having a prominent forwardly projecting nose. an airfiltering box mounted upon said nose andhaving free communication therewith, eye windows mounted in said shaped plate above and on opposite sides of said nose. an air deflecting plate mounted within said shaped plate beneath said eye windows and formed with a central projection which engages the inner surface of said nose above the opening leading from said filter box and having its lower edge flanged and its side edges and flanged lower edge so shaped as to make close contact with the inner face of said shaped plate and separated slightly from the shaped plate between the nose and edges to form divided passageways for the incoming air to direct the air currents upwardly over the inner faces of said eye windows.

6. A respirator mask comprising a rigid sheet metal plate of sufficient size to completely-cover the eyes, nose and mouth of the wearer and shaped to conform approxi mately to the contour of the human face and thereby reduce to a minimum the dead air or rebreathing space within the mask, eye windows mounted in proper position in said shaped mask plate, means for supplying 10 filtered air within said mask plate, a flanged JAMES W. KNOBLOCK, 

